The evening world. Newspaper, June 3, 1916, Page 8

; 1 THE Story No. 11 FANGS OF THE See ties ms aE fae TATTLER Two American girls, Mona Hartley and Burnett, set about punishing the er “Wolves of Society” books. adventure. through their check This is the story of their eleventh (Csprright by Kalem Company) 8 this Miss Hartley—Mona Hartley?” bid The girl who had picked up the telephone transmitter gave a wondering affirmative to the question over the wire, noting that {t was a woman's voice which had apoken—a voice which held a euggestion of hysteria, “My name te Burton,” continued the voice, “Mrs. Amos Burton. You don’t know me, but I have heard of you end your friend, Miss Davenport, ané I~ wish you could help me! I am in trouble, desporate trouble!” The hysteria In the epeaker’s voice was rising to @ shrill crescendo. “Don't say you cannot. If you refuse me, I don't know what I shall do!” Mone glanced at her watch, “If you will give me your address, Mrs, Burton, Mise Davenport and I will eee you at once,” she eald briskly. It was shortly after 11 o'clock when the hired motor of the two girs @zew up before a handsome residence, eat wealth bad lavished much attention. Mrs. Burton needed no urging to plunge into har story. M1 back in @ yard, on which Evidently it was the uppermost subject of her thoughts, “I eent for you,” ahe bega cause I need the aervices of eome one + wpon whose discretion and honesty I ean adsolutely rely. If you read the gewspapers you must know something of my married life, an? my husband. ‘The papers printed columns about us Doth at the time of our wedding. Mr. Burton te much older than mysel!, al- ‘We were both devoted to each other. But he ts frightfully jealous, unreasonably eo at times, for I ewear that I have never given him cause to doubt my loyalty. And now—it looks es though circumstances had con- epired against me, and that I shall be dranéed in bis eyes as @ designing creature, unworthy of tls love, through ebsolutely no fault ef my own. “"Go om, please,” encouraged Mona. ‘Mrs. Burton flushed. “To go back @ ebort time ia my life, I must tell you that before my marriage I was on rather good terms with George Alil- a, @ young artist. In fact, bad con- Gftions been different, the affair might Rave developed more seriously. As it ‘was, tt was definitely at an end even bsfore I received Mr. Burton's offer of marriage. You eee, Mr. Allison ruined bimself and bis career with drugs, and about the time I became engaged he disappeared utterly. A few monthe efter my marriage I re- ceived a letter from him dated froin Bodla Amc..4, saying be was very UL Then enother letter came, telling me he was ina cr'tical condition, and asking if I could send bim some money. Such an appeal, of course, would have destroyed any love for Mm, even if there had been any left, for it was easy enough to read be- tween the lines of the ravages of his own. dissipation. But I sent him some money, rather fu. nly, perhaps—and then forgot the incident until yester- day.” Bbhe paused again, and continued more slowly and deliberately. “Yesterdey afternoon I received a card from @ man styling himself Ab- wer Runkle, attorney, with a request for en toterview on a vital subject. Reluctantly I received him and he herrifiec me with the announcement that my letters from George Allison were in the possession of a o vaper, and about to be published— unless I could raise envugh money ey te buy them back. Of course 1 thought he was ahooting at random, but when I searched my deak I found that he had, indeed, apoken the truth, or all of my letters had been stolen. Mona's face contracted grimly. “I eee!" abe eaid grimly. “and what ts the name of the enterprising enwapaper in the case?” “The Tattler! Surely, you wust know dt. It bas acquired a tremen- dous reputation by publiabing the Most sensational scandals of any Daper in this eection—effairs which Bo one but @ person intimately ac- Quainted in society could b: knows about, Every one has suspected for months that the Tattler was being eupplied with its material by some one being recaived into the best homes of the city—and there have been ugly rumors of scandal stories, even more sensational than those it has pub- Nahed, which were suppressed strangely at the jast moment. When 1 received the proposition of this law- yer, Runkle, I could understand how thie had been done, and that I was not the only victim which the Tattler had caught in its toils, He told me that he bad happened to drop into the editorial offices of the newspaper quite by accident, and while there had seen the proofs of the article about me, which were to have been pub- lished in this week's issue, Knowing the injury which such a publication would be to me, he had prevailed upon the editor to hold up the article, 8 he expressed it, until he could see me-—explaining that it would mean considerable loss to the paper's circu- lation to stop the publication of such @ sensational story, and that if I were willing to make up this loss he thought it possible to get back the lotters for me. He told me that it might be arranged for five thousand dollars, and be ts to call to-morrow for the money. “And you had planned to gtve it to bim?" asked Mary, . “T can't! T haven't got it! And there is no way I can raise it without carrying the whole wretched story to my husband.” “You say the letters were stolen from your private desk?" asked Mona “That fact, at least, thoughtfully, CARLTON WAS FACING HIM WITH A DRAWN REVOLVER to work. Who, besides yourself, had access to the desk—and who knew the lettere were there? “No onel” aaid etrated the girl. “The thief must have known. And we must find the thief if we are to help you! Have you a maid?" “Of course—but Mimt {s quite above suspicion, I assure you. I would vouch for her devotion.” “Can we talk to her?” asked Mona. A fow minutes later Mona flung a half dozen searching queries to the demure maid, who moet them all with- out so much as change of color. In the end, Mona was forced to abandon the amateur inquisition and, giving a signal to Mary, arose reluctantly as Mrs. Burton dismissed the servant. “Tam afraid you are right about Mimi," said Mona, as she stood, sur- veying the room uncertainly. “She is either absolutely loyal and honest, or one of the most consummate act- resses I have met.” As they passed through the hall, Mona caught a glimpse of Mimt’s face watching them wonderingly. In the lower hall, Mona uttered @ sudden exclamation, and started back to the otairs, “I have forgotten my purse,” she eaid hurriedly. “I can get it, Mre. Burton~thanks.” At the door of the boudoir, Mona hesitated a moment, and then stepped suddenly into the room. Mim! was rising from the telephone. Mona flashed a quick glance, and saw that tho girl was flushing uncom- fortably. “To whom were you ‘phoning? she asked abruptly. Mimi tossed her head. “And what does that matter to your” Mona compressed her Ips, and “Nothing—per- OBDEICEGDOSS hapa!” she sald, and walked down the stairs thoughtfully. In the lower hall she faced Mra. Burton decidedly. “That maid of yours knows more about this affair than she has told us," she gaid. “With your permis- sion, I would tke to question her again.” “Iam certain you are mistaken,” said Mrs, Burton dubiousry, “but If you are to help mo, I suppose you must have your own way.” Again Mimi was summoned, and again she faced Mona's swiftly varted questions—this time meeting hor in- terrogator with more assurance, as though realizing that she had ber mis- tress's confidgnce to support her, In the end, Mona was obliged, as before, to own herself defeated. With a shrug she watched the girl leave the room, A moment afterward the girls left the houso, Mona instructed the driver to etop at a drug store, and a few minutes later she returned to the machine with ® packet of peculiar black powder, which she exhibited triumphantly: Then they returned to the Burtoy house. Mrs Burton met them with a glance in which hope and bewilderment mingled. “Have you found anything ?” she asked. “IL bhope to—shortl “Have you an old eny address?” she asked, Carrying the envelope to the light, sald Mona. pe with your she dustedsit with a portion of tha black powder she had purchased, Mary gave a little ery as tho lin. pressions of four fingers and a thumb showed vaguely on the white paper. “My finger prints!" exclaimed Mona, “Now if you will kindly cail M gain, Mrs, Burton, I think omise you sume detluite prog- am sorry to trouble you," sald Mona, adopting a more conciliate tone than she hai used before, : deed, I am quite sure that I have wronged you in my suspicions, and have called you in order to tell you before Mrs, Burton that I am if I have done you an -" She stepped forward, and in doing so dropped her siver vanity box, which fell to the floor, almost at Imi's feet. With a smile the maid stooped and recovered it, Thank you," smiled Mona, holding the box carefully by its edie. “Oh Just a moment, please!” she called as Mimi made a’ movement as though to leave. As the maid paused uncer. tainly Mona carried the vanity box to the the black powder over its polished surface, Against the silver back- ground appeared the imprint of the mm 's fingers and thumb, Will you please give that e velope of Mrs, Burton's Lona asked Mary. ‘The other obeyed promptly, and Mona stratehtened with a ery of ®pparent satisfaction, * h I have caught you red-handed, Mimi!" she said, crisply. “Perhaps you have not heard of the wonderful nee of human finger prints? It has been established that there is no More infallible witness than the tell- fale marks of the thicf's own hand, This envelope"—hold ne ou tha which Mrs, Burton had’ gives hese “revealed a peculiar set of fi Prints, And now," produei y box, “I have another of ager prints which no! exactly, As the envelope was recovered trom Mrs, Burt sk there is only one course T can take, T must for the police and give you tody on the charge of lephone documents of your employer, May I use your phone, Mrs, Burton?” The mistress stared as though dazed by the sudden development. For a moment Mim stood, sury questioner with wide eyed amaze megt. ‘Then with a gasp rang and ¢ forWard ught M Mona's ingen perfectly, ‘The @atisfaction an the maid's request “1 don't know that etended to consider you can he!p ture Theatres window and dusted more of & The Newest Kalem Picture Now Being Presented at the Leading Motion Plo- In_ Greater New York us—that we need your evidence,” she said dubiously, “Ob, but you do not know—you do not know ail thet I can tell you,” pleaded Mimi swiftly. “I can take you to the man who paid me the money for the letters, who"—— ou wretch!" cried Mrs. Burton, who now saw the othere duplicity, Mimt’s tears redoubled, “His name ia Runkle, and he told me that he would pay me well for any information I could give him for bis newspaper. But even he is not the man you want. He ts only an agent. The real man ts Who?" snapped Moni Mimi smiled craftily. that I sha uffer If you tell me the truth and keep faith with me,"conceded Mona grudg- ingly “Very well, then. It is a promise. The tnan you want, who employed Runkle, !s Reginald Wentworth.” Mrs. Burton gave @ cry of tn- credulity, “Impossible! ou promise be protected—that I shall Why, I know Mr. Wentworth well! He ls above any such infamy. There would be no need for him to stoop to such methods to gain money, for he is rich in his own right, popular and a@ caller in all the best homes of town." Mona smiled cryptically, “Doesn't your description tally exactly with the idea you gave me of the mysterious informant of The Tattler in society? All but the finan- celal standing of Mr, Wentworth—and perhaps his income may be largely biufr!"* Mrs. Burton frowned dubiously. “Of course, you may be right,” she conceded. “After the revelation of treachery I could believe any- She turned on the maid an- If it were not for Miss Daven- port's promise of protection | would be tempted to turn you over to the police mysel “You forget that you would have to tell them about the letters!" retorted Mimi sullenly. Mrs. Burton stiffened. “Oh, what 1 1 do?” she moaned again as the realization of her situation broke upon her, “Even if Mimi has told you what sho did with my corre- spondence, how does i* help us? How are we to get back the letters? And, remember, unless can be re- turned to me eo without their contents becomiug wo, I am ruined—ruined,” Mona patted her encouragingly on the shoulder, "Mimi ts going to re- deem herself by helping me to make the acquaintance of Messrs, Runkle and Wentworth—and unless I am more mistaken than I ever was be- fore 1 think I can promise you a ifying report in the very near fu- ture! ‘To begin with, now that Mimt is out of your service, she ts going to enter mine—for the time being.” She scribbled a card, and gave it to the hesitating maid. ‘I am trusting you absolutely! You will report to me this afternoon, If you so much ag try to warn either Runkle or West- worth of what has happened I shall give you to the police—no matter what the results may be to Mrs. Burton!” For a moment she and Mimt stared into each other's eyes—Mona coldly determined, and Mimt fluctuating be- tween a sullen defiance and fear, In the end Mona's superior will won, and to the door, hear from me in the afternoon,” she said, nd now, Mrs, Burton," cried 4 us the door closed behind the other, “you must do exactly as I tell you if you expect me to be of any as- sistance to you. In the first place you must plead with the man Runkle for more time, ‘Tell him anything you please—that you have to bor- row the money or pawn your jewels nything to gain time until I have Do you under- * agreed Mrs, Burton. the remainder of the ina silent, speculative study, from ich Mary did not arouse her even Mimi put in an appearance, to her appointment, It was the two girls were preparing r the night that Mona un- ned herself, and before she had zen words Mary realized s quick wit was begin- lution of their prob- when faithful until POOH HOOHADDODH HG DAOVOOHIDEDHDOOOHODSOOHSOOOOOS m Plot by George B “HANDS UPI" HE BNAPPED, “Dick Carlton is dining with us to- morrow, isn't he?" she asked. “You mean we are dining witb him,” corrected Mary. “I admit the error,” emiled Mona. “Well, Dick {s to enter our service for the time being. You are to be my confidential secretary and companion, and I am to be a rather filghty youn; married woman, with a rich husban in Geattle, and a generous allowance to spend as long as I behave myself. Do you begin to catch my drift?” “And I am, of course, to sell infor- mation against you to Runkle for a story in the Tattler!” cried Mary. ‘ot exactly. We'll determine that point later, Help me to choose a name for myself. Whose wife am I to be’ “You want a name that sounds like money and respectability,” said Mary reflectively. “Smith is too common. So is Jones. How about Douglas?” “Splendid. Mrs. Douglas of Seattle on an excursion here to see the sights, and have a general good time, while hubby {8 sticking close to the eternal grindstone to provide the where- withal! Now, if our young friend Dick comes up to specifications I think we can consider the cast satis- factorily filled!” Dick Carlton, as the girls had con- fidently expected, entered into the spirit of their plans with a relish, and when Mona sketched the part he was to play—that of secretary to the hus- band and more than slightly tn love with her—he accepted the role with alacrity, particularly the latter por. tion, The next afternoon Mona, as Mrs. Douglas, with Mary ae her secretary and Mimt as her maid, made a some- what spectacular appearance at the Roanoake, one of the select hotels of the city, and was assigned to a suite which only the most generous bank roll could have stood. The following day Mrs, Burton, who had been not!- fied of the girl's assumed character, invited her to a tea, at which she was Presented to a group of the city’s s0- clally and financially elect. Mona kept a sharp eye open for Reginald Wenvworth, but that gentleman did not make an appearances. The next morning found several invitationa to various affairs in her mail, and at a theatre party that evening she moet for the first time tho object of her plottings. Went- worth was a tall, well set up fellow in his early thirties, with a certain grace oft manner toward the fair sex, which had obviously won ‘him many friends among women. He established him- self at Mona’s side, and the girl pur- posely made herself agreeable to him in a frank, open manner, which kept Wentworth with her for the better Part of two acts, On the following afternoon Dick lton, registering as Raymond niels of Seattle, sauntered into the Roanoake, and that evening he es- corted Mona to another theatre party, where he was duly presented to Mrs. Burton and ‘her friends, including Wentworth, who showed none too great a relish when the stranger calmly appropriated the rich young M Douglas for the bulk of the ng. It was @ part of Mona's plan to give the impression that she and Carlton were on terms of Inti- mate flirtation, and she succeeded ad- mirably, Early tn the following week she considered her preparations far enough advanced to proc with the next step in her p: She called Mim! into their sitting room and instructed the maid to make an appointment with the man Runkle for the park that afternoon at 2 o'clock, “Hold him there until Miss Hartley arrives with Mr. Carlton,” directed Mona. "Give him any excuse neces- sary. Tell him that you see a way by which you can make capital out of my supposed indiscretions: -any- thing to keep him occupled until Miss Hartley ts ready,” Promptly at 2 o'clock, Mimi strolled to one of the hes overlook- ing the main d with Runkle, "You say that Douglas is young and pretty and rich?” asked Runkle “There is no doubt that” broke off her sentence. strolling down the pat an angry dialogue, It Mary and Carlton, As they reached the bench on which Mim! and her companion ed safely gramme. Mimi A couple were engaged tn ronson Howard Novelization by Hugh C. Wei flash of the fright from > Wentworth bani A gies a match and | it into the powder. aa wder mingled with a cry of lona—and Wentworth stepped The bright into the outer room, smiling cynically. But his smile was suddenly frozen. Carlton was facing him with a drawn re- volver. Wentworth whirled about—to confront a second revolver in the hands of Mary. The girl laughed at the scowl of rage on his face. “Caught with the goods!”’ she mocked. were aitting Mary suddenly broke away from Cariton in @ torrent of weeping denunciation. “You are tired of me! You are throwing me over for her! I know what is in your heart! You ahall regret it eoon—very soon!” With that she tried to make a scornful tuss of her pretty head, and staggered across to an empty bench. “Perhaps it is better to have It over with!" he called after her, lifting his hat with a flourish. “At any rate, you know the truth Without, a backward glance, he strolled back down the path, leaving the weeping girl alone on the bench. For a mo- ment Mary sobbed convulsively, and then lifted her head—to discover that she was alone and that Carlton had disappeured. She r to her feet, glanced wildly about ber, and hesita' ingly walked to the lake. Apparently she was about to throw herself into the water. Runkle, with a muttered oath, sprang across and grasped her ‘None of that, young woman!” he snapped as Mary glared at him. “If he has thrown you over, there are far better ways of revenge than that! Mary stared at him, as though not comprehending, While Mimi hovered Aiscreetly in the background. At that moment the honk of an automobile horn sounded from the driveway, and the voice of Reginald Wentworth called across to Runkle. “If you will wait here @ moment,” the latter sald to Mary. “I should like to talk to you. And I think a little in- terview might be of profit to both of us!" Mary glanced quickly at Wentworth, who was watching the scene curiously from the car, and dropped back on her bench, indicating that she would wait. The opportune arrival of Wentworth was a real piece of luck. When Runkle returned after a tong talk with Wentworth, he brought that worthy back with him and then finally persuaded Mary to tell them the de- tails of Mrs. Douglas's treachery to Mary and infidelity to her rich hus- band. Then, with Mary's consent, they agreed to make Mrs. Douglas pay for it through the medium of the Tattler. Wentworth himself drove Mary home, and he seemed to enjoy the ride with his charming companion. When Wentworth finally instructed the chauffeur to stop, at a point near the Roanoake, he lingered in his good- bys, and forced her to consent to dine with him the next evening. She drew a long breath as the car finally rolled away, Wentworth waving to ber from the rear seat. She felt that she had conquered! With sparkling eyes she burried +o their apartment in the Roanoake and excitedly poured out the detalls of the afternoop to the impatiently waiting Mona, Three weeks passed—three weeks of varying incidents. Mona's flirta- tion with Carlton, or young Daniels, as their new friends knew bim, was beginning to attract more than casual attention, and more than once Mona canght the calculating eye of Wentworth surveying them at the various affairs where they chanced to meet. In the meantime, Mary's acquaintanceship with Reginald Wentworth was fast approaching a degree of intimacy, It was appar- ent to the girl that the man was genuinely attracted to her, and the topic of Mrs. Douglas and the sup- posed young wife's indiscretions was discussed between them with a di- rect candor and speculation. But there was a vague, indefinable elo- ment of distrust even yet in Went- worth's manner, which the girl was at a loss to understand until one evening when the two motored out to a restaurant on the outskirts of the city for a bohemian dinner, During the ride Wentworth care- lJessly toyed with his wallet, which he had drawn from his pocket to refer to & memorandum it contained. Suddenly he looked up at her and, tapping the wallet significantly, said: “Do you know that its con- tents are almost priceless to myself ~and a certain very worried lady of society?” Mary shook her head with a quis- zical smile. “I dure say that the lady in qu tion would redeem the half dozen letters in this wallet for a thousand be grateful for the chance! The subject dropped, and it was not until Wentworth received a sudden telephone call during the course of the dinner and excused himself that the conversation recurred to the girl, There by his plate was the wallet, where in his haste he had forgotten It, For @ moment she hesitated, and then her hand reached out stealthily to appropriate it. The insiinct that whispered her a swift warning she could not have explained, but she drew back hurried leaving the wal- let undisturbed. Was it not possible that Wentworth had laid a clever trap to test her? It was inconceivable that a man, accustomed to Iving by his wits, would be careless enough to leave a six thousand dollar weapon of blackmail conspicuously on a res- taurant table! A moment later Went- worth sauntered back, and his glance told Mary that her suspicions had been justified, THE TWELFTH WILL BE PUBLISHED “THE SOCIAL PIRATES” RR With « low luugh he picked up the wallet, and turning tt inside out, Gung it back, lt was ewpty! “Please accept ay apologies tor doubting you!" ne suid tn a low tone. “But I couldo’t afford to take # chance —and if we ure to play the @aine to- gether, 1 must be absolutely certain that We are guiug to du it om the square!” Mary paled. How near eho had been to @ hopeless, fatal betrayall When she rejoined Mona that night her mind way definitely made up. She would force the situation to @ climax without further delay. She e@aw now that every day might hold fresh pitfalls and new dangers, 60 they chose that ume night for their little draina. It was nearly called up Wentworth at his epart- ment, and asked hurriedly for an ime mediate interview. When he met her an hour later she imparted to him the intelligence that Mra, Douglas and Carlton, after the theatre that night, Were to be together in the formers apartment at the Roanoake, ‘And I hav Dian which I think will give us what we have been scheming for,” ended Mary enthusi- astically, For several moments #he spoke swiftly and nervous! nd the end Wentworth caught hand enthustastically. “Splendid!” cried. “Tl! be ready when you are The die was cast! It was just before 11 o'clock that night when the telephone in the apartment of Mary and Mona an- nounced the arrival of Wentworth in the lobby. Mary asked him to come up at onca She was alone, Mons had left for @ theatre with Carlton shortly after a 7 o'clock dinner, leaving Mary to put the finishing touches to the last act they had planned in their little drama, She received Went- worth at the door, and with a show of secrecy conducted him through the living-room into an Inner bedroom. Wentworth glanced around him curiously and his eyes lighted as he noted @ camera and flashlight ap- paratus, already in position, trained on the living-room, “All that we need now ts to wait until they are seated at their tete-a- tete supper and then light the pow. der. The camera wili do the resti” chuckled Mary in apparent glee. “And we will sell the plate to the highest bidde said Wentworth with which showed that he at in deadly earnest. “Hush!" cautioned Mary suddenly, catching his arm, as a key turned in the hall lock. The next moment Mona and Carlton entered the suite, and the latter removed his companton’s wraps with a show of tenderness, which made Wentworth smile again in anticipation, A tempting lunch of cold viands had already been set on a table. Carlton took the seat which Mona indicated, and edged his chair closer to her as she inspected the articles of the menu, “Now!" whispered Mary, Wentworth softly struck a mateh and dropped it into the powder, as Mary flung aside the heavy draper- fes screening the entrance to the lving-room. The bright flash of the powder mingled with a cry of fright from Mona—and Wentworth stepped into the outer room, smiling cynic- ally. But his smile was suddenly frozen, Carlton was facing him drawn revol “Handa up!" snapped the young actor. Wentworth whirled about—to con. front a second revolver in the hands with @ of Mary. The girl laughed at the scowl of rage on his face. “Caught with the goods ohe Paaghed: 4 “You devil!" he growled, a: laughed. Mary “That will do!” commanded Cari. ton. “The game's up. We've got you fair, and we mean to hold you! We know your connection with the ter, and your own judgement must tell you that we have evidence enough of your blackmailing methods tosend you to prison for more years than You w uld probably care to reckon! “What do you want?" Wentworth Blom “First, those letters of Mrs, ton's, and next your promise to the Tattler out of business and Move yourself from this vicinity!* “Which meins, of course, immu from the law?” sneered Wentworth “Not quite!” It was Mary whe spoke. “You are forg penses of the case you have made us spend to ga Where we wanted you, 1 think #ou thousand would about eo ver it, ¥ can give us a check. I think we men take it for granted that you won't stop payment!" Mona stepped to the telop? ordered a taxicab. The pt iad od went to the Tattler office and resnge ered the lette: c ceiver ; ered the letters and received the Ten minutes later Mona w ing Mrs, Burton's private * number from a corner dy u “We have your letters! ring. phone re, she ‘sata crisply. ul we , bring them up? Malt theemee "Get a taxicab!" cried Mrs And Mona laughed hoppy emtome she promised. cl ® (End of Eleventh Episode, ADVENTURE OF SATURDAY, JUNE 10 hoon when Mary: F 2 |